HIS333H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Major Force, Portuguese Empire, Francis Xavier
Document Summary
Of spices and gods: portuguese traders and raiders in the indian ocean world. The allure of the east derived from both spices and the idea of a christian utopia as spread by presbyter john. Portuguese) believed they were expanded upon a divine mission in which they believed that their mission was a continuation of the crusades. The crusades of the medieval period were a reclaiming of the holy land: pope urban said that christ himself was their leader. In the context of this, the society of jesus was founded in 1534 by ignatius of loyola. A spanish soldier who had had a near-death experience. After this, he begins to think introspectively and founds this new order including st. francis xavier. They envision themselves as soldiers of christ within. It is their mission to spread the word. They are prepared to die for the cause. To understand the success, we have to understand why these missions were so important.
